The examination of brain tissue can contribute to research about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, including research into new treatments. Planning ahead will help in this process of giving the ultimate gift.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) NeuroBioBank

The NeuroBioBank program includes five banks that accept donations from individuals with neurological disorders resulting in dementia, including, but not limited to, vascular, frontotemporal and Lewy body dementia. Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are referred to the Alzheimer's Disease Centers program, as space at the brain banks is limited. The five brain banks are:

National Cell Repository for Alzheimer's Disease (NCRAD)

The goal of the NCRAD is to help researchers find genes that increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The NCRAD provides researchers with biological samples (such as DNA, plasma, serum, RNA, cerebrospinal fluid, cell lines and brain tissue) for study.The NCRAD enrolls families into its programs. Its programs include, among other efforts, a bank for brain donations and clinical trials in which family members may be eligible to participate. To make a brain donation, an individual must have two or more living blood relatives with symptoms of Alzheimer's or another dementia. These symptomatic relatives must be willing to donate a biological sample (blood or saliva) before death and provide the NCRAD with their medical records. If the individual inquiring about brain donation has dementia, only one blood relative is needed.

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